Leeds United - v - Manchester United ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

TEAM NEWS

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa has not ruled Stuart Dallas out despite him coming off injured against Everton last weekend.

Junior Firpo should return after a month's absence, but Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Leo Hjelde and Kalvin Phillips all remain on the sidelines.

Manchester United welcome back Raphael Varane, who missed the Brighton game because of a stomach issue.

Nemanja Matic may also be included, but Edinson Cavani is still unavailable.


MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Leeds' only win in their last 16 top-flight games against Manchester United was by 1-0 at Elland Road in September 2002. They have won just four of the 27 Premier League meetings.

Manchester United are looking to complete their first league double over Leeds since the 1999-2000 campaign.

The Red Devils are aiming to keep a third successive league clean sheet at Elland Road for the first time since a run of three goalless draws between September 1980 and August 1990.

Leeds United

Leeds have lost five of their past eight league matches, as many defeats as they suffered in their opening 15 fixtures this season.

Only Norwich City have conceded more Premier League goals than the 46 by Leeds so far this season. They have let in 26 goals in nine league games since their last clean sheet against Crystal Palace in November.

The Whites have lost two of their last three top-flight home games, as many as they had in their previous 14 at Elland Road.Daniel James can become the first player to score a Premier League goal in this fixture for both clubs.

Manchester United

Manchester United are unbeaten in six league away games since a 4-1 loss at Watford in November. However, the Red Devils have dropped six points from winning positions in that run in matches against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Burnley.

They are the only side to have scored in all of their top-flight away fixtures this season. They last failed to score in a league away game against Leeds in April 2021.

Ralf Rangnick's side are aiming to keep back-to-back clean sheets in all competitions, having gone 49 matches without doing so.

Bruno Fernandes has five goals and one assist in just three league appearances against Leeds. He has created 71 chances in the Premier League this season, more than any other top-flight player.

If Cristiano Ronaldo plays, it will be the longest gap for a player between games against an opponent in Premier League history, having last faced Leeds 18 years and 125 days ago on 18 October 2003.

1 - 3.

MOT.

[joellufcprice]

Just want to see us being competitive, like we did end of last year where we didn't necessarily score loads but we looked much more solid.

Our players that we have available are just not good enough 1v1 marking, they lose too many battles because their quality is just lower than the opposite man.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Crowd should make a difference and looking forward to seeing a more solid midfield

[Rev72]

Raphinha on the bench

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

👀🙈🕍🙉🔥😉🥲😡😰😱😳

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Interesting line up - think we maybe are trying to be more solid without the ball

[alfinyalcabo]

Good Luck against the SCUM!!!

[BelfastAndy]

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas, Koch, Forshaw, Klich, James, Harrison, Rodrigo. Subs: Klaesson, Firpo, Cresswell, Shackleton, Kenneh, Bate, Roberts, Raphinha, Gelhardt.

[BelfastAndy]

Me thinks Raphinha definitely on way out....

[joellufcprice]

Why is it as soon as a player doesn't start we assume he is leaving, there is a rift, he is unhappy.

Maybe he is just knackered and isn't ready for 90 mins.

That said, I'd have him on no matter what today. Fact Klich is still in there shows how short we are in midfield because he has been hopeless this year and was embarassingly bad against Everton.